BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The most senior soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick also was reduced in rank and forced to forfeit pay. He will be dishonorably discharged. His maximum sentence of 10 years was reduced to eight as part of a plea bargain. He admitted to five charges at a court martial in Baghdad Wednesday.
Frederick was among the military police and intelligence soldiers who were photographed abusing and humiliating Iraqis at the prison near Baghdad. Frederick personally attached fake electrodes to a naked prisoner and stomped on the fingers and toes of others.
Frederick lawyer Gary Myers said he will seek to get the "excessive" prison sentence reduced.
Myers argued it was the collective fault of the military for setting the conditions that allowed the abuse to happen, and failing to train the soldiers properly for the job.
No senior commander has been charged in the abuse although several have been suspended from their posts.
